Difference between File.separator and slash in paths

Question

What is the difference between using File.separator and a normal / in a Java Path-String?

In contrast to double backslash \\\\

Answer 1

If you are trying to create a File from some ready path (saved in database, per example) using Linux separator, what should I do?

Maybe just use the path do create the file:

new File("/shared/folder/file.jpg");

But Windows use a different separator (\). So, is the alternative convert the slash separator to platform independent? Like:

new File(convertPathToPlatformIndependent("/shared/folder"));

This method convertPathToPlatformIndependent probably will have some kind of split by "/" and join with File.separator.

Well, for me, that's not nice for a language that is platform independent (right?) and Java already support the use of / on Windows or Linux. But if you are working with paths and need to remember to this conversion every single time this will be a nightmare and you won't have any real gain for the application on the future (maybe in the universe that @Pointy described).